《圣经》典故之二十七：苦难的杯子？

Let the cup pass from me，叫这杯离开我； 比喻希望避免即将到来的苦难。

出自《新约·马太福音》26章（Matthew 26）。 他就稍往前走，俯伏在地祷告说：“我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我。然而不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。”

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Jesus' humanity can clearly be seen when He prays, "Let this cup pass from me." The struggle of what He would face was intense, and Jesus was battling the flesh. His wish to bypass the cup "if it be possible" expresses the natural human desire to avoid pain and suffering.

这里的背景是说耶稣的人性与神性共存，其人性希望眼前的苦难快点过去，而神性则希望免除苦难。所以乞求天父。

再说“杯子”文化，东方更倾向于“酒杯”文化，所以杯子并没有像西方赋予神学色彩，尤其体现在圣经之中，例如“圣杯”等神迹。我的理解是人间（世俗，东方）与神间（神圣，西方）的区别，或许也有助于我们理解东西方文化的差异。